Marking device



March 2, 1943. G..B. cATHEY MARKING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1941 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 ,1

UNETED ST orric 2,312,625 MARKING DEVICE George B. Cathey, SantAngelo, Tex.

Application 51113 25, 1941, Serial No. 404,076

7 Claims. (o1; m n-s27) This invention relates to marking devices and more particularly to devices for markinglong haired-animals, such as sheep, in connection with which branding is impractical.

Such marking with the use of paint is quite common but the application of the paint with known devices is a very messy operation and quite unsatisfactory in the results obtained. This is due to the difliculty in applying just the right amount of paint and also the pattering of excess paint on other parts of the animal.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, portable, hand-operated device which will apply exactly the proper amount of paint evenly distributed to form the identifying mark quickly and with a mere contraction of the operators hand. V

A further object is to provide a device of the character indicated carrying a sufficient quantity of the paint or marking fluid to mark a large number of animals in rapid succession without refilling the reservoir.

A further object is to provide a device of the character indicated, which can be readily separated into its few component part so that the paint or marking fluid can be completely cleaned out and not clog the device when same is not in use.

Further objects will more particularly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section taken on line -l4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral indicates a container for the paint or marking fluid, which, as shown is a cylindrical vessel having its open end exteriorly threaded. A top 2 provides a closure having an annular flange 3 interiorly threaded to engage the container. The top is provided with a central bore 4 in which a piston rod 5 is arranged to reciprocate and upon its outer face the top 2 is provided with an annular flange 6 surrounding bore 4 and interiorly threaded to receive a bushing nut '1 adapted to secure packing 8 around the piston rod. A compression spring 9 seats around the piston rod bearing against the nut l and an adjustment nut Hi threaded upon the upper end of the piston rod, which is also provided with a handgrasp arranged parallel with a second liandgrasp l2 secured upon the top 2. On the inner end of the piston rod 5 is positioned a piston |3 adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder M of a cylinder plug I5 threadedly engaging an orifice H in the bottom 'of the container v The cylinder plug I5 is provided with inlet port l6|6 opening within the container l and with an outlet port l8 opening out of container and controlled by a ball valve I9 which ball is held in seated position by compression spring 20,

the ball and spring being positioned in an interiorly threaded orifice in the outer end of the receive the coupling end of a spider 24, the legs '25 of which are tubular member bent to contact spaced portions of the applicatory structure which 1atter is arranged in the shape of a letter, numeral or arbitrary design which is to be -marked upon the animal.

The applicatory-member comprises a tube 23 which is shaped to conform with the letter or character to be marked, and this tube 26 communicates through the spider legs 25, plug 2| and cylinder plug |5 with the interior of container On thebottom face of the tube 26 is secured a trough-like member 21 which is also shaped to conform with the character and with the .tube 26 and is brazed or otherwise secured to the bottom face of tube 26 and communicates therewith through a plurality of ports 28 closely spaced throughout its length. The trough-like member 21 has its open face lying in a common plane throughout and is filled with a fibrous material 30, such as soft cotton wicking adapted to diffuse the paint or marking fluid evenly throughout the trough. This diffusing material is held in position by a porous cover preferably a fabric 3|, which is made of a size to completely cover the open face of the trough 2'! and have its side edges extend up over the side walls of said trough member, being held taut in position by a 1acing 32 which is wrapped around the upper side of tube 26. i

The cylinder I4 is so proportioned that it will contain, when piston l3 has passed and closed inlet ports |6-|6 on its downward stroke, just sufficient paint or marking fluid to exude the proper amount uniformly over the surface of the fabric 3| covering the diffusing material in the trough-like member thus assuring the proper amount of paint on each application.

By reason of the structure described, it Will be apparent that the operator can by a simple contraction of the hand draw handles H and I2 together thus depressing piston rod l and forcing piston l3 into cylinder 1 4 and the entrapped paint through valve controlled port [8 and thence through spider 24 to the applicatory surfaces of fabric 3|. It will further be noted that the container I while readily portable and capable of being handled with one hand, contains a substantial amount of fluid sufficient for the marking of a large number of animals and that by reason of the specific structure of the device there is no possibility of any paint or marking fluid escaping except through the fabric marking surfaces. The device is thus adapted to permit the operator to hold the animal with one hand while applying the mark with the other hand thus assuring rapidity of the operation and with the greatest convenience.

It will further be noted that the few parts are easily operated and that all ports and conduits can be easily reached for cleaning and flushing out in a solvent when the device is not to be used for some time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A marking device comprising an applicatory member formed with an open face defining a character Or design, a diffusion member within said applicatory member coextensive with said open face, and means for gradually forcing a measured amount of marking fluid through said diffusion member.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the open face of the applicatory member and the outer face of the diffusion member lie in a common plane with a porous member positioned over said diffusion member to retain same in position.

3. The device of claim 1 with a fabric positioned over the diffusion member and means for securing the fabric taut.

4. A marking device comprising a trough-like member shaped to forma character or design and having all parts of its open face in a common plane, a fibrous filler for said trough, a porous cover conforming in shape with said trough-like member, means for securing the cover taut on said member in contact with the fibrous filler, a spider holder having a plurality of tubular legs, said legs secured at one end to spaced parts of the trough-like member to rigidly support same with their bores communicating with the interior of said member and their opposite ends joined in a common conduit, with means for gradually forcing a measured amount of marking fluid through said spider and trough-like member.

5. A marking device comprising a container for marking fluid having a, removable top, a piston rod slidable in a bore formed in the top, cooperative hand grips secured respectively to the outer end of the piston rod and top, spring means arranged to normally force the piston rod out of the container, a cylinder removably secured in an orifice in the Wall of the container having inlet ports within the container, and a valve controlled outlet port without the container, a piston in the cylinder connected with the piston rod and an applicatory member rigidly supported by the cylinder in communication with the outlet port.

6. A marking device comprising a container for marking fluid, an ejection device carried by the container and communicating therewith, adapted to gradually discharge a metered quantity of fluid under pressure and an applicatory member carried by the ejector comprising a spider having tubular legs, a trough-like member carried by the spider and communicating with the bores of said legs, fibrous diffusion material in the trough-like member and a fabric closure for said trough-like member substantially as specified.

7. A device for marking animals comprising a container for marking fluid, an applicatory member carried by thecontainer and means for gradually forcing a measured amount of marking fluid from the container through the applicatory member without more than contact pressure of the applicatory member against the animal.

GEORGE B. CATHEY. 

